Italy shut down at 827 COVID-19 deaths. California did it at 19. See the difference so far

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all residents to stay at home and all non-essential businesses to close, the state became the first in the U.S. to impose a shutdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The move mirrored Italy’s decision eight days earlier to expand its shutdown to the entire nation, becoming the first European nation to do so.

Despite sharing early leadership on shutdowns, California officials used Italy’s overwhelmed healthcare system – where doctors have been forced to triage life-saving treatment – as justification for stay-at-home orders and social distancing.

More than 800 people had died from COVID-19 when Italy’s shutdown began. California’s death toll had not yet hit 20 when Newsom issued his order.

Italy and California differ in ways that could work in the Golden State’s favor in the fight against COVID-19. California has roughly two-thirds the population of Italy despite being geographically larger. Some health experts also point to Italy’s older population and high rates of smoking as additional factors contributing to the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in that country.

This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.